Quanzhou
Quanzhou is a coastal city in Fujian Province. As the eastern terminus of the Maritime Silk Road, Quanzhou was an important hub of ancient commerce and trade, culture, and religious exchange. In the Tang Dynasty, Quanzhou was one of four major foreign trade ports in China. In the Song and Yuan dynasties, Quanzhou was China's hub for global maritime trade and reputed as "the largest port in the Orient." It was a magnet for merchants and travelers from all over the world and a melting pot of many cultures. The vibrancy of the bustling emporium that traded with over 100 countries and regions was captured by lines from poems such as "people from many foreign countries were a common sight on streets" and "when the tide rises, merchant ships from all countries come ashore to trade." It was dubbed a "World Museum of Religions."
Quanzhou was known as a "World Museum of Religions" for a long time. Historically, Buddhism, Islam, Catholicism, Judaism, Protectantism, Hinduism, Manichaeism, and other religions spread from other parts of the world and were widely observed in Quanzhou. They left behind a large volume of cultural heritage and historical sites such as temples, churches, and stone carvings, all physical testimony to a marvelous blend and assimilation of diverse cultures and the harmonious coexistence of different religions in Quanzhou. In 2021, "Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China" was inscribed on the World Heritage List.
泉州
泉州，是位于福建省的沿海城市。作为海上丝绸之路起点，泉州是古代商贸、文明和宗教交流的重要枢纽。在唐朝，泉州是中国对外贸易的四大口岸之一。宋元时期，泉州是中国的世界海洋商贸中心，是各国商旅云集、多元文化交融的“东方第一大港”，与100多个国家和地区通商贸易，呈现出“市井十洲人”“涨海声中万国商”的繁荣景象，被誉为“世界宗教博物馆”。
历史上，佛教、伊斯兰教、天主教、犹太教、基督新教、印度教、摩尼教等世界多种宗教在泉州广泛传播，留下了寺庙、教堂、遗址、石刻等大量文化遗产，共同见证了泉州多元文化汇集融合、多种宗教和谐共存的盛景。2021 年，“泉州：宋元中国的世界海洋商贸中心”列入世界遗产名录。
